Suspected rapist waives right to speedy trial

Keith Overmyer, 65, of Lima, appeared briefly in Allen County Common Pleas Court Tuesday to waive his right to a speedy trial. Overmyer, charged with rape and gross sexual imposition for allegedly engaging in sex with a person as young as 10, is now scheduled to stand trial on Oct. 8.

J Swygart | The Lima News

LIMA — A 65-year-old Lima man charged with 14 sex-related crimes, including rape, admitted in court Tuesday to being “a little confused” by some of the proceedings in his case.

But Keith Overmyer told Allen County Common Pleas Court Judge Jeffrey Reed that he did understand the ramifications of forfeiting his constitutional right to a speedy trial.

He waived that right Tuesday, and a tentative date of Oct. 8 was scheduled for his jury trial to begin.

Overmyer entered pleas of not guilty in late April to 10 counts of rape, all first-degree felonies, and four counts of gross sexual imposition, third-degree felonies. Nine of the rape charges allege that from Jan. 1, 2017, until March 9, 2019, Overmyer engaged in sexual conduct with a female under the age of 13.

During that same time period, the Wales Avenue resident is alleged to have had sex with a victim under the age of 10. If convicted of that charge alone, Overmyer could be sentenced to life in prison. The remaining nine rape charges carry maximum prison terms of 11 years each.

During an initial hearing last month in Lima Municipal Court, Overmyer’s bond was set at $500,000. Assistant Allen County Prosecutor Kenneth Sturgill filed a motion that the affidavit in support of an arrest warrant for Overmyer be sealed. Municipal Court Judge Tammie Hursh approved that motion and ordered the details of the case to be shielded from public inspection “until further order of the court.”

Keith Overmyer, 65, of Lima, appeared briefly in Allen County Common Pleas Court Tuesday to waive his right to a speedy trial. Overmyer, charged with rape and gross sexual imposition for allegedly engaging in sex with a person as young as 10, is now scheduled to stand trial on Oct. 8.

https://www.limaohio.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/54/2019/04/web1_Keith-Overmyer-2.jpgKeith Overmyer, 65, of Lima, appeared briefly in Allen County Common Pleas Court Tuesday to waive his right to a speedy trial. Overmyer, charged with rape and gross sexual imposition for allegedly engaging in sex with a person as young as 10, is now scheduled to stand trial on Oct. 8. J Swygart | The Lima News